System for content continuation and handoff

ABSTRACT

A content delivery system and method for use with plurality of digital multimedia data processing systems and legacy systems spanning across one or more network environments. The system and method enable users with freedom of mobility while maintaining access to the user&#39;s selected content while the user transitions from one device in one location to a different device in a difference location, substantially without interruption and without the need for user action to turn on and off these target data processing systems. The Instant Invention can provide high bandwidth content delivery solutions based upon hardware and software components by activating a target device while the system is proximate to the target device and, in one embodiment, automatically redirecting the content while the system is proximate to a new target device without user intervention. The target devices include digital multimedia data processing systems and legacy systems including, but not limited to, HDTVs, TV, Personal Computers, digital music systems, printers, radios, and fax machines.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED PATENTS

The present patent application is a co-pending continuation of U.S.patent application Ser. No. 14/598,825 filed Jan. 16, 2015 by theinventor Frank C. Wang and entitled “Enhanced Content ContinuationSystem and Method” (a patent which is sometimes referred to as the“Enhanced Content Continuation Patent”).

The Enhanced Content Continuation Patent is a continuation patentapplication of a previously-filed patent application entitled “ContentDelivery System and Method Spanning Multiple Data Processing Systems”filed Oct. 3, 2009 as Ser. No. 12/573,106 by inventor Frank C. Wang. Thepatent application detailed in this paragraph issued as U.S. Pat. No.8,938,497 on Jan. 20, 2015.

The present patent application is also related to the following patents:

A previously-filed patent application entitled “Content Delivery Systemand Method” filed Jan. 14, 2011 as Ser. No. 12/930,727 by inventor FrankC. Wang. This patent application detailed in this paragraph issued asU.S. Pat. No. 8,412,798 on Apr. 2, 2013.

A previously-filed patent application entitled “Content Delivery Systemand Method” filed Mar. 22, 2013 as Ser. No. 13/848,896 on by inventorFrank C. Wang. This patent application detailed in this paragraph issuedas U.S. Pat. No. 9,247,001 on Jan. 6, 2016.

A previously-filed and currently pending patent application entitled“ENHANCED CONTENT DELIVERY SYSTEM AND METHOD SPANNING MULTIPLE DATAPROCESSING SYSTEMS” filed Oct. 31, 2014 as Ser. No. 14/529,234 byinventor Frank C. Wang.

A previously-filed and currently pending patent application entitled“Content Continuation System and Method” filed Jan. 22, 2016 as Ser. No.15/004,838 by inventor Frank C. Wang.

The specifications and drawings from each of these previously-filedpatents and patent applications are specifically incorporated herein byreference.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates generally to a content delivery system and methodfor enabling a user's freedom of mobility while maintaining access to“real-time” on-going content without substantial interruption to thecontent delivery and without requiring user intervention; even as theuser transitions from one physical location where the content isaccessed from multimedia data processing system (referred to as targetdevice herein) on one network environment to the next physical locationwith different target device on a different network environment. Moreparticularly, the present invention improves content delivery between asmart personal device and a plurality of target devices while reducingpower consumption of the devices; and being able to pull desirablecontent from the target devices including but not limited to contentslocated on a single network location, on multiple network locations, andcontent hosts located over the internet.

DESCRIPTION OF THE BACKGROUND ART

Technology has brought us the personal computer (PC), HDTV, Digitalpersonal Multimedia player, Personal Video Recorder, Smart Phone . . .however in our daily interaction with these analog and digital targetdevices we are still limited under the current model of being tied downto the physical location of each of these devices, i.e. the content isalways accessed by user within proximate to the given device whereas thecontents are either stored, displayed, or being sourced from the device.The physical distance limitation restricts a user to sit in front of aPC, sitting around a TV and PVR to watch a TV content, which severelylimits our freedom of mobility especially when a user may have multipleTVs and multiple work environments in one location. The content isdelivered to each physical device by plurality of ways is anotherlimitation in that a HDTV devices can receive contents from Cable,antenna, satellite dish, USB, Ethernet LAN, Wireless LAN. Even whendevices receive content via a similar source, each device would need tobe interface and programmed individually. Another limitation is thatcontents are only accessible on each physical target device with its ownunique user interface or being able to remote controlled. User has tolearn the user interface and or control buttons of each device tooperate from simple turning on and off to gaining access to the contentof a selected device. Another drawback from the current contentaccessing model is wasted energy and bandwidth requirements. Withmultiple target devices around a home or office, we have to turn on adevice when we desire to operate or access the contents upon enteringits surrounding location. Frequently we have these devices turned on inmultiple locations so a user can be mobile from one location to another,using transmission bandwidth for each unit even though a user is nolonger proximate to the device. Another drawback from the currentcontent accessing model is that the content to be access by the user arestore either within these target devices or close by the physical deviceitself i.e. a home entertainment center including a TV, a DVR, a musicsystem . . . etc. As a result, plurality of remote control devices mightbe implemented to provide users with access to content and operationswith all devices located proximate of each other. We are well aware ofthe inconvenience of plurality of remote devices around a givenlocation. The inefficiency in the current model produces undesirableside effects such as in the case of leaving the devices turned on, whichinclude wasted electricity, running up the usage of the devices thusreducing the useful life and dealing with the heat generated by thedevices. In addition, managing multiple user interfaces and remotecontrols for each of the devices is time-consuming and can befrustrating. Another undesirable side effect is the potential ofinterference of these devices on wireless networks amongst each other.One of the disadvantages from the user's perspective is the inherentdeficiency in the physical range limitation of device centered sourcingand control, which prohibits the continuity of operations and contentaccess and delivery when user physically moves from one location toanother.

Accordingly, the prior art systems for delivering and accessing contentfrom these target devices have significant disadvantages andlimitations. It would, therefore, be highly desirable to employ a smartapparatus which can eliminate the problems of the conventional processand allows users to have freedom of mobility while accessing the desiredcontents spanning multiple target devices without interruption andwithout requiring user intervention.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A smart personal device is a digital Device which can discover,register, activate, deliver content and deactivate of a plurality oftarget devices including but not limited to HDTV, PVR, PMP, PC, DVRaround a home, office, hotel room, conference center as describedherein. The smart personal device can be embedded within a digitaldevice including, but not limited to, a smart phone, a personalcomputer, a laptop, a netbook, a GPS, a personal multimedia player,video MP3 player, a portable radio or a tablet PC.

The smart personal device is used to first discover multiple targetdevices upon identifying one or more target device(s) located proximateto the smart personal device. The present invention uses RFID solutionfor discovering target devices around one or more physical locations,although it is not limited to a specific communication technology in thefuture (i.e. wireless USB, wi-fi, RF, FM, Cable, etc). Once a targetdevice is discovered and registration steps are completed, the targetdevice in one embodiment to be placed in a sleep mode if the targetdevice is not being used by a user or there is no smart personal deviceis in proximate to the target device. Upon the smart personal deviceidentifying one or more target device located proximate to the smartpersonal device and based on the desired state of the smart personaldevice, it will automatically wakeup and activate one or more of thetarget devices and deliver content to the target device to meet the needof the user. These include but not limited to receive and displaycontents from the Personal Smart Device as in the case of a HDTV,receive and play contents from the smart personal device in the case ofa digital speaker system, receive and display contents of an applicationas in the case of a personal computer. When the smart personal device isno longer proximate to the target device, the target device will bedeactivated by the Personal Smart Device and resume its sleep mode.

The present invention is a system and method which overcomes thelimitations and disadvantages of the prior art by providing a simple andconvenient way of allowing a user with freedom of mobility and to movefrom one environment to another while continually accessing his contentwithout interruption.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The aforementioned and other features and objects of the presentinvention and the manner of attaining them will become more apparent;and the invention itself will be best understood by reference to thefollowing description of a preferred embodiment taken in conjunctionwith the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a prior art of location based digitalmultimedia target devices including HDTV, music system, personalcomputer (PC) for possible use in conjunction with the system and methodof the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of the exemplary system embodiment of a smartpersonal device and target device communication environment which isused in accordance with the present invention;

FIGS. 3A, and 3B are block diagram of the exemplary system embodiment ofa smart personal device which is used in accordance with the presentinvention;

FIG. 4 is a flow diagram of the Instant invention illustrating aselected flow of interaction between a smart personal device and atarget device;

FIG. 5 is a block diagram of the exemplary system embodiment of a smartpersonal device and multiple digital multimedia devices which areenabled with Direct I/O described in accordance with the presentinvention;

FIG. 6 is a flow diagram of the Instant invention illustrating one flowof interaction of a smart personal device transitioning from a firsttarget device in one location to a second target device in a differentlocation;

FIG. 7 is a block diagram of the exemplary system embodiment of a smartpersonal device and a remote Internet content host which are enabledwith Direct I/O content Pull mode in accordance with the presentinvention;

FIG. 8 is a flow diagram of the Instant invention illustrating one flowof interaction between a smart personal device using a PULL mode withremote content host and local multiple target devices.

DETAILED DESCRIPTIONS OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Before describing the preferred embodiment in detail, a description ofsome of the terms used herein may assist the reader to understand thepresent invention.

-   -   DISCOVERY: The smart personal device enables a user to select a        discovery mode from which the smart personal device will        discover target devices which are capable of being interacted by        the smart personal device. The discovery method currently        contemplated comprises, but is not limited to, using any one or        more of the following: RFID, wireless, powerline, FM, LAN, USB        networking communication media. The preferred embodiment of the        present invention is described in the context of discovering a        RFID device which is built within or associated with each target        device while a smart personal device is located proximate to the        target device. During the discovery process, the smart personal        device initiates all its tasks and performs all functions while        target device can be passive and its main electronics other than        the minimal components may be powered off or in low power sleep        mode other than the minimal functions including but not limited        to the RFID and Wake on LAN or Wake on USB. Once the smart        personal device identifies a suitable target device located        proximate to the smart personal device, it will register the        target device and its functional characteristics such as TV,        HDTV, DVR, Music systems in the smart personal device's        configuration table. The smart personal device at its option,        depending on its programming and user and/or system preferences        and requirements may perform a quick test to confirm the target        device's capability even if the target device is in active        operation without disrupting any user action to confirm the        target device's capability. During the quick test, If the target        device is powered off or in a low power sleep state, the smart        personal device can wake up the target device by using an        industry standard method including but not limited to wake on        LAN or wake on USB method. The smart personal device is capable        to perform rediscovery update operation either upon user's        selection or perform at a fix interval to detect if there is any        new target device since the last discovery operation. If a new        target device is discovered the smart personal device will alert        the user and enable the user to choose to ignore or to add the        newly discovered target device to the configuration table. A        target device may include a configuration option for not be        discovered or only be discovered and registered by if the smart        personal device meets certain parameters including but not        limited to authorize by user, by device type, by password, by        functionality.    -   REGISTRATION or REGISTERING: Upon a successful discovery of a        target device, the smart personal device is capable of        registering relevant characteristic of the target device by        storing in the configuration table of the smart personal device.        The relevant characteristic of the target device may include but        not be limited to brand, model, maker, MAC ID, CPU speed, main        memory size, disk storage size and type, network capability,        smart Direct I/O capability, GPS location, input I/O type,        output I/O type. Once registered, the target device is available        to be woken from a low power sleep state and ready to perform        operation upon command including but not limited to receive and        display content or to transfer content to the smart personal        device. The present invention uses the smart personal device to        perform all the necessary discovery and registration tasks        independent of the target device while the target device is        passive or in a low power sleep mode. In an alternative        embodiment, the discovery and registration steps can be easily        performed with active participation by the smart personal device        and target device. In one embodiment of a related invention the        target device performs the role of Discovery and Registration        whereby the target device identifies a smart personal device        located proximate to the target device and performs all        operations to discover and register the smart personal device        while the smart personal device is passive till the target        device activates the smart personal device.    -   ACTIVATION: Once the smart personal device identifies a target        device located proximate to the smart personal device and        confirms in the configuration table that it is a valid and        registered target device, it will automatically perform a wakeup        commands to the target device without the awareness of the user.        In addition, if the smart personal device is being used by the        user to perform an ongoing live operation including but not        limited to a Windows or MAC or Google application such as word        processing, windows office, playing music, video playback, TV        broadcasting program, internet related operations such as        search, news, blogs, purchase, etc., the smart personal device        will command the target device to instantaneous switch from the        low power sleep state to an active state to perform I/O        operations on the target device. The present invention will        enable the target device, if it's already performing an        operation, to automatically perform a split screen if the target        device includes a display unit and has the split screen        capability. One or more target devices may be activated at the        same time within proximate to the smart personal device, i.e. PC        and printer, HDTV and DVR.    -   DELIVERY CONTENTS: Contents are delivered from the smart        personal device to one or more target devices via various means        including but not limed to wireless Ethernet 802.11 G/B/N/A, USB        wireless, mobile phone wireless, powerline, RF, FM etc. In one        embodiment of the present invention, the content is delivered        from the smart personal device to the target device using one of        the target device's input unit controllers. If the target device        is a HDTV, the input unit controller is capable of receiving        content from input source including but not limited to antenna,        cable, wireless LAN, RF, FM, LAN, wireless USB. If HDTV        comprises a HDTV Core Media Processor than its CPU, main memory,        output unit controller will be activated to receive the content        from the smart personal device using its input unit controller,        transmit the content to the CPU/main memory using the I/O BUS.        After the CPU process the content, it will transfer the content        to the output unit controller using the I/O BUS and the output        unit controller will display the content on the target device.        In this embodiment, the majority of the digital logic will be        powered to perform the function.    -   In another embodiment, whereas the target device comprising        smart input I/O controller and smart output I/O controller, once        the target device is being activated by the smart personal        device and properly configured by the Direct IO manager of the        target device, the smart input I/O unit controller is capable of        receiving the content from the smart personal device and deliver        the content directly to the output I/O unit controller using the        I/O BUS independent of the Core Media Processor and Main Memory.        In addition, in this embodiment of Direct I/O method, the Core        Media Processor and Main Memory can be turned off or to be in a        low power sleep mode thus significantly reducing power required        for the operation. This Direct I/O method may be enabled in        devices including but not limited to HDTV, Music systems,        Personal Computers or target device comprising at least one        smart Input unit controller, one smart storage unit controller        and one smart output unit controller.    -   In another embodiment, when the smart personal device is leaving        one target device and arriving at a different target device, the        smart personal device upon detection of it is no longer        proximate to the first target device it will automatically store        the content in a temporary buffer or storage unit and suspend        the content delivery to the target device by marking or        bookmarking the current position using the intelligence on the        smart personal device unit. Upon identifying a new target device        or back to the original target device located proximate to the        smart personal device, it will first deliver the content from        its temporary buffer or storage unit therefore there is no        interruption or loss of the content while the user is        transitioning from one target device location to the next by        resuming the content delivery from the previously marked or        bookmarked position.    -   The present invention describes content delivery from the smart        personal device to a first HDTV target device and redirect the        content to a second HDTV target device whereby the target device        located proximate to the smart personal device. In another        embodiment of the present invention the smart personal device is        receiving a live digital FM broadcasting contents while        delivering the FM broadcasting contents to a digital speaker        system (Target device #1) in a home location on network #1. When        the user is leaving the above described home location and        entering in a second location i.e. an automobile with a digital        speaker system, the smart personal device will first deactivate        the first target device on network #1 when the first target        device is no longer proximate to the smart personal Device (the        first time), automatically start storing or recording the        content from the FM broadcasting on its storage unit. Upon        identifying the digital speaker system (Target device #2) in the        automobile on network #2 located proximate to the smart personal        device (the second time), it will activate the target device #2        and resume the content delivery from the previous stored content        while continuing storing or recording the current FM        broadcasting content. In the above embodiment, the network #1        whereas the smart personal device and the target device        communicate by means may include but not limited to a wireless        Ethernet network. However the network #2 is a different network        from the network #1 whereas the smart personal device and target        device #2 communicate by means may include but not limited to a        Bluetooth network.    -   In yet another embodiment, the smart personal device upon user's        selection is capable of waking up one of more target devices        from the low power sleep state and performs content search        operation of its neighboring target devices which has been        enabled for such actions. Once the matching criteria is found,        the smart personal device will “pull” such content from its        neighboring target devices and store on the local storage of the        smart personal device without interrupting its current operation        of either device. The transfer of the content can be performed        using the CPU, memory and the I/O BUS of the neighboring target        devices, or if the neighboring target device comprises smart I/O        controllers, the transfer of content can optionally be performed        using a Direct I/O method of transferring content from the smart        storage unit I/O controller to the smart network unit I/O        controller independent of the target device's CPU and memory.        i.e. under the program control of its Direct I/O Manager,        content is transferred from the smart storage unit I/O        controller to the network unit I/O controller using the I/O BUS        independent of its CPU and main memory. Then the network unit        I/O controller transfers the content to the storage unit I/O        controller of the smart personal device. The smart personal        device with the smart I/O controller have the option to directly        transfer the content from its smart network unit I/O controller        to the smart storage I/O unit controller independent of its CPU        and main memory operate effective under control of the Direct        I/O Manager. The Direct I/O method improves the speed        performance and reduces power consumption of the device since        the CPU and main memory are not active during the content        transfer operation. Upon completion, the smart personal device        will alert the user that such contents are ready for display at        user's convenience.    -   In yet another embodiment, the present invention may, upon its        user's command, using “pull” method amongst neighboring target        devices as well as content host target devices across the        internet; instead of having contents, such as web        advertisements, being “pushed” onto the smart personal device        without the consent of the user, the smart personal device will        operate effectively to block all non-authorized intrusive        contents from displaying on the smart personal device or target        devices without the consent of the user; instead it offers user        an option to specify a desire content criteria for the smart        personal device to perform search directly, or indirectly        through another intermediary web based service on user's        specified criteria. Once the relevant criteria are found, a        matched content list will be generated by the smart personal        device to enable the user to review the list at one's        convenience. If the user elects to view one or more (or all) of        the match content from the list, the smart personal device is        operable effective to PULL the selected content from the storage        area of the various content hosts, which may be over the        Internet or target device in its LAN environment. After the        completion of the PULL steps, content such as web advertisement        is stored onto the storage I/O unit controller of the smart        personal device for display at user's convenience. The present        invention using “pull content” method for web advertisements        over internet as an example, such invention may apply to a        variety of contents over the Internet including but not limited        to pull relevant books content, relevant news content, relevant        sales contents, relevant advertisement promotion through the use        of banners, widgets, etc. and user-specified web target services        and information sources including but not limited to google.com,        facebook.com, youtube.com, amazon.com, uspto.gov, etc.    -   DEACTIVATION: When the smart personal device is no longer        proximate to the target device, the target device will        automatically be deactivated by the smart personal device in the        present invention so the underlining data processing logic        including but not limited to the media CPU, main memory, input        and output controllers and associated input and output devices        and resume in a low power sleep state. Once the target device        enters in the low power sleep state the only function running        under the low power sleep state is the activation detection        logic comprising, but not limited to, RFID, proximity sensor,        wake on LAN, and wake on USB units. In one embodiment of a        related invention, the target device performs the role of        deactivation whereby the target device identifies a smart        personal device is no longer located proximate to the target        device and performs all operations to deactivate the underlining        data processing logic including but not limited to the media        CPU, main memory, input and output controllers and associated        input and output devices and resume in a low power sleep state.

Having provided a description of some of the relevant terms used in thisdescription, the remaining portion of this section will describe theillustrations of the present invention.

A typical, well-known, system includes one or more target devices whichcomprising a plurality of digital multimedia data processing systemswithin a home environment as a prior art of the present invention thatcan be used are illustrated diagrammatically in FIG. 1. FIG. 1illustrates multiple target devices in different locations and eachtarget device may deliver unique, different content and employ adifferent user interface to a user. The FIG. 1 comprises a HDTV 1 targetdevice which is located in room 1 block 102, within block 102 comprisesHDTV home target device1 is a HDTV where it is physically located inlocation 1. The HDTV target device1 block 102 comprises a HDTV CoreMedia Processor unit (CPU) 104, main memory unit 106, input unitcontroller 110, output unit I/O controller and an I/O bus 108 connectedto each unit 104, 106, 110, and 112. The HDTV target device1, 120comprises a HDTV Core Media Processor unit (CPU) 124, main memory unit126, input unit controller 125, output unit I/O controller 129, storageunit I/O controller 127 and an I/O bus 128 which connects by each unit124, 126, 125, 127 and 129. The Music System target device3 130comprises an Audio Signal Processor unit (CPU) 134, main memory unit132, input unit controller 135, output unit I/O controller 137, and anI/O bus 138 which connects by each unit 134, 136, 135, and 139. ThePersonal Computer target device4 140 comprises a Central Processor unit(CPU) 144, main memory unit 146, input unit controller 145, storage unitI/O controller 147, output unit I/O controller 149 and an I/O bus 148which connects by each unit 144, 146, 145, 147 and 149. The input unitcontroller 110, 125, 135, 145 are capable of receiving signal whichcomprise the contents from one or more signal sources but not limited TVantenna, wireless Local Area Network (LAN). Each target device receivecontents from the input unit controller, deliver the content to theoutput unit I/O controller using the I/O bus or at its option with orwithout the user's option to store the content in its storage unit I/Ocontroller for later delivery. One common characteristic for all targetdevices in FIG. 1 is that all contents are received and deliveredlocally or stored locally at or near the physical presence of the targetdevice for later access by the user on the target device apparatus. Thisrestrict a user to access of all or any of the contents within certainfixed physical distance limitation of the target device FIG. 2 is anexemplary system embodiment of a smart personal device 240 being used inconjunction with a plurality of target devices in the present invention.

In the illustrated embodiment of FIG. 2 a smart personal device 240 isconnected with a HDTV with DVR target device in location 5, 200 and aPersonal Computer target device in location 6, block 220 whereas asdevice 200, 220 and 240 are attached to a network 252. Network 252 inthe exemplary system embodiment may include but not limited to awireless 802.11 ABGN communication network which conforms to a standardcommunications protocol such as 802.11a, b, g or n, a USB, a RFcommunication system, an infrared, a Bluetooth, or a powerline-basedcommunication network. The target device in location 5, 200 includes acentral processing unit (CPU) 202, main memory 204, network unit I/Ocontroller 207, storage unit I/O controller 208, output unit I/Ocontroller 209, all of which are interconnected with I/O bus 206. Thetarget device 200 also includes a RFID component 201 which enables thesmart personal device 204 to perform the discovery, and register stepsdescribed above. The remaining functional components 202, 204, 206, 207,208, and 209 work in conjunction with the smart personal device 240 toperform the steps of activation, content delivery, deactivation andcontent pull mode as shown with FIGS. 4, 6, and 8. Within the targetdevice in location 6, 220, the central processing unit (CPU) 222, mainmemory 224, network unit I/O controller 227, storage unit I/O controller228, output unit I/O controller 229 are interconnect with I/O bus 226and a RFID component 221 which enables the smart personal device 204 todiscovery and register steps of device 220. The remaining functionalcomponents 222, 224, 226, 227, 228, and 229 work in conjunction with thesmart personal device 240 to perform the steps of activation, contentdelivery, deactivation and content pull mode as shown with FIG. 4, 6.

FIG. 3A is an exemplary system embodiment of a smart personal device tobe used in conjunction with a plurality of target devices in the presentinvention. In the illustrated embodiment 3A comprises a centralprocessing unit (CPU) 302, main memory 304, network unit I/O controller306, storage unit I/O controller 312, output unit I/O controller 308 andeach units are interconnected with I/O bus 310. The main memory 304 maycomprises a dynamic RAM whereas the storage unit I/O controller maycomprises non-volatile storage including but not limited to IDE, SCSI,SATA, NAND, SD storage types.

FIG. 3B contains the same components 302, 304, 310 as discussed in FIG.3A with the addition of a Direct I/O manger 360 and smart network unitI/O controller 350 and smart storage unit I/O controller 352 and smartoutput unit I/O controller 308. Duo to the high definition and high datarate requirements of these smart personal device, the I/O units 350,352, 358 in FIG. 3B of the present invention may including busmastercapability which is an industry standard implementation for an I/Odevice to request and to take control as the master of an I/O bus toprovide at least certain address, control and data signals to directtransfer content between the main memory 304 and respective I/O units,independent of the CPU 302 effective under program control using the I/Obus 310; In the event of transferring bulk content i.e. a digital movie,the smart personal device in FIG. 3B may invoke a Direct I/O transfermode wherein effective under program control of the Direct I/O Manager560 to transferring content directly between a pair of said I/O unitsvia said I/O bus as show in 360 a and 360 b, bypassing the main memoryan independent of the CPU. The Direct I/O Manager 560 is operable toenable the Direct I/O Mode under program control for a target deviceimproves not only the content transfer speed of the target device butalso reduces the power consumption of the CPU and Memory since theseunits area bypassed and inactive during the duration of contenttransfer. FIG. 3B upon set up by the direct I/O manager 360 underprogram control is operable to directly one of more direct transfer pathacross the I/O bus 310 and delivery bulk contents from the smart networkunit I/O controller to the smart storage unit I/O controller by onlytransfer the content across once as shown with data path 360 a using theI/O bus 310. The Direct I/O manager is capable of simultaneouslyenabling one or more such direct I/O operation pair across the I/O bus310 as shown with data path 360 b wherein upon program control of directI/O manager 360, the smart storage unit I/O controller is capable oftransferring bulk data to smart output unit I/O controller once acrossthe I/O bus 310, independent of the CPU 302 and main memory 304. Thedirect I/O does not increase content delivery data rate but moresignificantly, by bypassing the CPU 302 and memory 304 while performingthe bulk data transfer, it significantly reduces the power consumptionof the target device.

With reference additionally now to FIG. 4, a logic flowchartrepresenting a system and method for performing by the smart personaldevice to discovery, registration, activation, content delivery, anddeactivation of a target device. Upon enablement by a user, the smartpersonal device start the discovery step as shown in block 405 whereasthe smart personal device scans all available devices, and controldevices i.e. cable modems, DSL router, Cable modem, DHCP configurationto determine past and current devices and any available configurationsexisted on networks. The smart personal device is then required to scanany current target devices from one location to another by physicallymoving the smart personal device from one location to another so thesmart personal device identifies one or more target devices locatedproximate to the smart personal device uses its proximity sending deviceincluding but not limited to the RFID sensor.

Once the discovery steps are completed, the smart personal device asshown in block 410 will register all discovered target devices,including one or more discovered target devices which cannot be enabledfor the instant invention and one or more discovered target deviceswhich are capable of performing at least one function of the Instantinvention. After the steps of block 410, the smart personal deviceenters in a state to identify a Registered target device LocatedProximate to the smart personal device as show in block 415. As shown inblock 420 whereby the smart personal device identifies a registeredtarget device and based on the user's desire to transfer content to suchtarget device. The smart personal device proceed to perform Activationsteps by remotely waking up the target device if the target devices in alow power sleep state or remotely configure the target device to have asplit screen mode if the target device is currently being used byanother user and if the target device is capable to such split screenoperation.

After block 420, the smart personal device and the target device areoperable in the content delivery mode as shown by block 430 while thesmart personal device is proximate to the target device. The contentscan be sourced from the smart personal device for the target device toreceive and display or to receive and store, or to receive and store anddisplay on its output unit. In a reverse direction whereas the contentis sourced from the target device for the smart personal device toreceive and either display or store in its storage unit or both.

If and when the smart personal device and the target device which iscapable of performing the direct I/O mode under the program control ofits Direct I/O manager as shown by block 460 to enhance bulk contenttransfer by transferring the content once across its I/O bus independentof its CPU and memory with the added benefit of increased bulk contentdata rate while reducing power consumption of the device, Block 460 willenable the direct I/O to perform such operation.

At the completion of the content delivery steps and if the smartpersonal device has no further usage of the target device, the smartpersonal device will deactivate the target device as shown in block 480.Upon completion of block 480, the smart personal device will return toBlock 415 ready state for further required operation from the user. Inthe event of the smart personal device is no longer located proximate ofthe target device while operating under the steps of FIG. 4, the smartpersonal device will deactivate the current target device as shown inblock 480 and operating under the logic flowchart representing a systemand method steps presented in FIG. 6 below.

FIG. 5 is an exemplary system embodiment of a smart personal device 540,a HDTV with PVR target device in location 3 as show block 500 and aPersonal Computer target device in Location 4 as shown in bock 520; andeach device is connected with a communication network block 522. Thesmart personal device 540 which has all the capability of the smartpersonal device 240 as shown in FIG. 2 with additional Direct I/O Modecapability which effective operates under program control of Direct I/OManager block 546 to direct transfer content from block 547 and block548 across only once using the I/O bus 546 independent of the CPU block542 and main memory 544. Due to the high definition and high data raterequirements of these smart personal device, the I/O units 572, 548, and549 in block 540 of the present invention may include busmastercapability to directly transfer content between the main memory 544 andrespective I/O units, independent of the CPU 542 effective under programcontrol using the I/O bus 546; In the event of transferring bulk contenti.e. a digital movie, the smart personal device block 540 may invoke aDirect I/O transfer mode wherein effective under program control of theDirect I/O Manager 546 to transferring content directly between a pairof said I/O units via said I/O bus as show in 560 b, bypassing the mainmemory an independent of the CPU. Using the Direct I/O Mode for a targetdevice improves not only the content transfer speed of the target devicebut also reduces the power consumption of the CPU and Memory since theseunits area bypassed and inactive during the duration of contenttransfer. The Personal Computer target device in Location 4 as shown inbock 520 which is similar to the target device in block 240 in FIG. 2with the additional Direct I/O Mode capability which effective operatesunder program control of Direct I/O Manager block 546 to direct transfercontent from block 547 and block 548 across only once using the I/O bus526 independent of the CPU block 522 and main memory 524. target device520 of the present invention is operable to meet the high definition andhigh data rate requirements as its I/O units 572, 528, and 529 inlocation 4 may including busmaster capability to direct transfer contentbetween the main memory 424 and respective I/O units, independent of theCPU 522 effective under program control using the I/O bus 526; In theevent of transferring bulk content i.e. a digital movie, the targetdevice in location 4 block 520 may invoke a Direct I/O transfer modewherein effective under program control of the Direct I/O Manager 526 totransferring content directly between a pair of said I/O units via saidI/O bus as show in 560 a, bypassing the main memory an independent ofthe CPU. Using the Direct I/O Mode for a target device improves not onlythe content transfer speed of the target device but also reduces thepower consumption of the CPU and Memory since these units area bypassedand inactive during the duration of content transfer.

FIG. 6 is a flow diagram of the Instant invention illustrating one flowof interaction of a smart personal device transitioning from a firsttarget device in one location to a second target device in a differentlocation. As shown by block 600 of FIG. 6 and the smart personal deviceis delivering content to a target device and it detects that the smartpersonal device is no longer proximate to the registered target deviceas shown by Block 630, The smart personal device may automaticallyenters a Transparent Cache Mode whereby the smart personal device storesthe ongoing live content in its local storage including but not limitedto IDE, ATA, SATA hard disk drive media or USB, NAND, FLASH mass storagedevice or remotely to a storage medium remote from the smart personaldevice such as on the network or a removable storage area as shown byblock 635 without user intervention. This Transparent Cache Mode willcontinue as show by block 640 till the smart personal device identifiesanother registered target device located proximate to the smart personaldevice with similar content delivery capability of the previous targetdevice or the prior target device itself as shown by block 640. At suchtime, the smart personal device will automatically without userintervention to activate the new target device as shown by block 645followed by delivering content from stored storage from the beginning ofthe stored content under the Transparent Cache Mode as shown in block650 while the new target device is located proximate to the smartpersonal device till it reaches the end of the stored content of theTransparent Cache Mode cache content. The smart personal device of thepresent invention under the block 650 may simultaneously deliver cachedcontent to the new target device and continually storing content underthe Transparent Cache Mode as long as there is stored content of theTransparent Cache Mode which is not yet delivered to the target device.As shown in block 655, If the smart personal device detects either thetarget device or the smart personal device or both are Direct I/Ocapable device, it will under program control to activate the Direct I/Omanager to enabled the Direct I/O delivery mode for these devices.

An exemplified system and method of the present invention illustratesthe steps of the FIG. 6 including but not limited to a user movingaround from room #1 to room #2. While the smart personal deviceidentifies a first registered target device located proximate to thesmart personal device at a first time and delivers content to a HDTVtarget device #1 in room #1 while the smart personal device is proximateto the target device #1. When the smart personal device is no longerproximate to the target device #1 at the second time, the smart personaldevice suspends the delivery to the target device #1 and marks thecontent is not delivered including but not limited to save the currentlocation of the content or place a bookmark to indicate what content hasbeen delivered and what content has yet to be delivered. When the smartpersonal device identifies a second registered target device (a PersonalComputer #2 of room #2) located proximate to the smart personal deviceat a second time, the smart personal device activates the new targetdevice and resumes delivering the remaining content or previously markedcontent starting from the bookmark location while the smart personaldevice is proximate to the new target device. Another embodiment of thepresent invention illustrates the steps of the FIG. 6 including but notlimited to a user listens to the content of a Digital Music System(Target device #3) in one's home whereby the target Device #3 is aregistered target device of the smart personal device and is locatedproximate to the smart personal device whereby content was provided by aFM digital content provider and being received by smart personal devicewithout the need to store the content on the storage area of the smartpersonal device and delivered to the target device #3 while the smartpersonal device is proximate to the target device #3. The user leavesthe home location and enter in user's automobile which has a registereddigital speaker system (Target device #4) with the smart personal deviceand such that the new target device #4 has similar capability ofreceiving the content as of the target device #3. While the user isleaving his home and entering the automobile, the smart personal devicein the present invention has identified that the target device #3 is nolonger proximate to the smart personal device, it deactivates the targetdevice #3 and entered the Transparent Cache Mode without user action andstores FM broadcasting content at the time. At a later time when thesmart personal device identifies the target devices #4 located proximateto the smart personal device, it automatically activate the speakersystem in the automobile without user action and deliver the storedcontent to the target device #4 without interruption to the FMbroadcasting content.

With the presence of Internet content host and web based retailers suchas ebay.com and amazon.com, there is a prolific presence of web basedadvertisement, in the forms of banners, widgets, whereby advertisementcampaign pushes these contents to device and being displayed on aspecific area of the output devices i.e. CRT, LCD, HDTV of a deviceincluding but not limited to a smart phone, a personal computer while auser accessing contents from the Internet without consent of the user.Some of these advertisement contents may be interesting to a userhowever the majority of these web based advertisement are disruptive andeach takes away productive time and processing resources away from theuser. The present invention overcomes these pushed intrusions byenabling the user to specify a finite set of criteria for the SmartDevice to first search relevant content hosts over the Internet directlyor using an intermediary web services to do so. Once a desirable contentis found, the smart personal device will build a match content list andstore the match content list on the smart personal device for the userto access at one's convenience. Once a content within the matched listis selected by the user, the smart personal device will be operated to“pull” these selected content from the content hosts and store thematched content on the storage unit of the smart personal device for theuser to access it at user's convenience either directly on the smartpersonal device or access these contents on one or more of the targetdevices. In one embodiment of the present invention, the stored contentwill be displayed only on the target location of the output displaydevice as if the content is being pushed by the advertisement campaign.In another embodiment of the present invention, the matched content isbeing reorganized by the smart personal device so the user can accessthem without the restriction being shown at the original targetlocation. An exemplified system and method of the present inventionillustrates in FIG. 7 including a smart personal device block 790comprising a CPU 782, Main Memory 784, smart network unit I/O controller786, smart storage unit I/O controller, output unit I/O controller 789and each is connected by the I/O bus 788; The smart personal device 790is further connected to Internet block 780 using including but notlimited to a wi-fi network or an Internet service provider's datanetwork including but not limited to dial-up, DSL, Broadband wirelessaccess, cable internet, ISDN while accessing Internet content hostsincluding but not limited to block 720, 740, 760 and service providers.

With reference additionally now to FIG. 8, a logic flowchartrepresenting a system and method for performing the Pull Mode by thesmart personal device. Upon enablement by a user as shown on block 830,the smart personal device start to scan Internet content host which isremotely located over the Internet and local target device for contentswhich matches the selection criteria i.e. sales on a specificautomobile, specific tools, travel discounts to a specific destination .. . etc. Once one of more matches are found, the smart personal devicebuilds a Match Content List as shown on block 835 and “pull” the matchcontent and store the content on a storage area of its local storageunit or store the content on a removable and network storage which canbe accessed by the smart personal device Block 840. If the smartpersonal device is enabled with the Direct I/O Delivery Mode, Block 850,the smart personal device will under program control to activate theDirect I/O manager 785 to enabled the Direct I/O delivery mode forpulling these match content from block 786 to block 788 across the I/OBus 728 only once as shown by block 560 a independent of the CPU 782 andmain memory 784.

Those skilled in the art will understand that the present invention hasbeen described in illustrative form only and that many modifications arepossible without departing from the spirit of the present invention. Forexample, smart personal device of the present invention is a hardwareand software components which includes integrated or embedded with aportable device including but not limited to a smart phone, a personalcomputer, a laptop, a netbook, a GPS, a personal multimedia player,video MP3 player, a portable radio or a tablet PC. A smart personaldevice can as well be a standalone, special purpose device whichcomprises one or more of the features described in the above paragraphseither alone or in a combination of other features. Additionally,features include advertisement sifting system and method for matchedcontent, turning off power for these target device no longer inproximate of the smart personal device are invention which can eitheralone or in a combination of other features. Those skilled in the artwill also appreciate that some of the features described can be employedto advantage without the corresponding use of other features. Forexample, the use of RFID is desirable for discovering a target device,though not required if the smart personal device is equipped with theuse of a pattern recognition feature, or an optical component, or a barcode component either alone or in combination with the use of the RFIDcomponent to discover a target device. It will be understood that thepresent invention is described in connection with various systems suchas communications protocols which are in use today, but the presentinvention is not restricted to the presently-used communicationsprotocols. Also, many additional features can be added to the presentinvention including but not limited to a usage timer which meters eitherthe time used on the smart device by the user, or the network bandwidthused for delivering content, a storage used to store the content . . .etc. In addition, actions taken when the smart personal device locatedproximate to the target device can include or replace with a locationspecific feature such a GPS. Accordingly, the foregoing descriptionshould be considered as merely a description of the present inventionand not in limitation of it, as the scope of the present invention isdefined by the claims which follow.

The invention claimed is:
 1. A data processing apparatus, comprising: aprocessor, a storage device, an output unit, and a proximity detectioncircuit, which are collectively coupled for receiving content related totarget devices; the storage device is coupled to the processor, forstoring at least: a first content, and a second content; and targetdevice characteristics, including a characteristic of a first targetdevice and a characteristic of a second target device; the proximitydetection circuit to detect proximity of the first target device andprovide to the processor a first target device indication indicating theproximity of the target device, and to cease providing the first targetdevice indication when the proximity of the target device is notdetected; the proximity detection circuit to detect proximity of thesecond target device and provide to the processor a second target deviceindication indicating the proximity of the target device, and to ceaseproviding the second target device indication when the proximity of thesecond target device is not detected; the processor receiving a user'sdesire to receive and display at least one of the first content and thesecond content; the processor receiving the first content, including thecharacteristic of the first target device, and displaying the firstcontent to the output unit upon receiving the first target deviceindication, and then to cease to display the first content in theabsence of the first target indication; and the processor receiving thesecond content, including the characteristic of the second targetdevice, and displaying the second content to the output unit uponreceiving the second target device indication, and then to cease todisplay the second content in the absence of the second targetindication.
 2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the characteristic ofthe first target device includes an advertisement information of thefirst target device, and the characteristic of the second target deviceincludes an advertisement information of the second target device. 3.The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the storage device is local andcoupled to the processor via a local bus.
 4. The apparatus of claim 1,wherein the storage device is remote and coupled to the processor via anetwork.
 5. A data processing apparatus, comprising: a processor, astorage device, an output unit, and a proximity detection circuit, whichare collectively coupled for communicating content with a target device;the storage device is coupled to the processor, and for storing atleast: a content, at least some of the content is stored in a bufferbefore being communicated to the target device; and target devicecharacteristics, including a characteristic of the target device isregistered for communication with the processor; the proximity detectioncircuit to detect proximity to the target device and provide to theprocessor a target device indication indicating the proximity of thetarget device, and to cease providing the target device indication whenthe proximity of the target device is not detected; and the processorcausing the content to be communicated from the storage device to theoutput unit and upon receiving the target device indication and a signalindicating a user's desire to transfer the content to the target device,the processor suspending the communication of the content only to theoutput unit and then transferring at least some of the content to thetarget device in accordance with the characteristic of the targetdevice, and the content from the storage device for displaying on thetarget device.
 6. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the signal comesfrom the data processing apparatus.
 7. The apparatus of claim 5, whereinthe signal comes from the target device.
 8. The apparatus of claim 5,wherein the data processing apparatus is storing some of the content inthe buffer while suspending the communication of the content only to theoutput unit.
 9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein at least some of thesaid content stored in the buffer is included with the content beingtransferred to the target device.
 10. The apparatus of claim 5 whereinthe data processing apparatus is storing some of the content in thebuffer while transferring the content to the target device.
 11. Theapparatus of claim 10, wherein at least some of the said content storedin the buffer is included with the content being transferred to thetarget device.
 12. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the storage deviceis local and coupled to the processor via a local bus.
 13. The apparatusof claim 5, wherein the storage device is remote and coupled to theprocessor via a network.
 14. A data processing apparatus, comprising: aprocessor, a storage device, an output unit, and a proximity sensor,which are collectively coupled for communicating content with a targetdevice; wherein the storage device is coupled to the processor, and forstoring at least a content; wherein the proximity sensor is capable todetect proximity to the target device and provides to the processor atarget device indication indicating the proximity of the target device,and ceases providing the target device indication when the proximity ofthe target device is not detected; wherein the processor accesses atleast some of the content from the storage device and transfers it tothe output unit for display; wherein, upon receiving the target deviceindication and a first signal indicating a user's desire to transfer atleast some of the content to the target device, the processor ceasestransferring the content only to the output unit and instead transfersat least some of the content to the target device; and wherein, uponlater receiving another target device indication and a next signalindicating the user's desire to receive the modified content from thetarget device while the content is being modified by the target device,the processor receives the modified content from the target device anddisplays it via the output unit.
 15. The apparatus of claim 14, whereinthe first signal comes from the data processing apparatus.
 16. Theapparatus of claim 14, wherein the first signal comes from the targetdevice.
 17. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the next signal comesfrom the data processing apparatus.
 18. The apparatus of claim 14,wherein the next signal comes from the target device.
 19. The apparatusof claim 14, wherein the data processing apparatus is storing at leastsome of the content in a buffer while ceases transferring the contentonly to the output unit.
 20. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein at leastsome of the said content stored in the buffer is included with thecontent being transferred to the target device.
 21. The apparatus ofclaim 14, wherein the data processing apparatus is storing some of thecontent in a buffer while transferring content to the target device. 22.The apparatus of claim 21, wherein at least some of the said contentstored in the buffer is included with the content being transferred tothe target device.
 23. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the storagedevice is local and coupled to the processor via a local bus.
 24. Theapparatus of claim 14, wherein the storage device is remote and coupledto the processor via a network.
 25. A data processing apparatus,comprising: a processor, a storage device, an output unit, and aproximity sensor, which are collectively coupled for communicatingcontent with a target device; wherein the storage device is coupled tothe processor, and for storing at least a content; wherein the proximitysensor is capable to detect proximity to the target device and providesto the processor a target device indication indicating the proximity ofthe target device, and ceases providing the target device indicationwhen the proximity of the target device is not detected; wherein theprocessor accesses at least some of the content from the storage device,and transfers it to the output unit for display; wherein, upon receivingthe target device indication of the target device and receiving a signalindicating a user's desire to transfer at least some of the content tothe target device, the processor ceases transferring the content only tothe output unit and instead transfers at least some of the content tothe target device, and content being transferred from the storage deviceto the target device is displayed by the target device.
 26. Theapparatus of claim 25, wherein the signal comes from the data processingapparatus.
 27. The apparatus of claim 25, wherein the signal comes fromthe target device.
 28. The apparatus of claim 25, wherein the dataprocessing apparatus is storing at least some of the content in a bufferwhile ceases transferring the content only to the output unit.
 29. Theapparatus of claim 28, wherein at least some of the said content storedin the buffer is included with the content being transferred to thetarget device.
 30. The apparatus of claim 25, wherein the dataprocessing apparatus is storing some of the content in a buffer whiletransferring content to the target device.
 31. The apparatus of claim30, wherein at least some of the said content stored in the buffer isincluded with the content being transferred to the target device. 32.The apparatus of claim 25, wherein the storage device is local andcoupled to the processor via a local bus.
 33. The apparatus of claim 25,wherein the storage device is remote and coupled to the processor via anetwork.